This species inhabits small and large lakes, large rivers, estuaries, coastal lagoons and sandy and rocky coasts, dams and reservoirs with either fresh or brackish water. It is also found by streams and smaller fast-flowing rivers and marshes. It requires waterside perches such as trees, reeds, fences, posts, huts and other man-made objects for hunting. Breeding season varies across the range but for example in Türkiye it lays from August to September (Woodall 2016). It breeds in pairs or in family groups consisting of primary helpers and/or secondary helpers. It can be colonial or solitary. The species nests in earth banks over or up to 1 km from water or occasionally in flat grassy ground. Tunnels are excavated by jabbing at the soil with the bill partially open and kicking soil backwards with the legs. Short holes are dug but the nest-tunnel is typically 1-2.5 m long with an unlined chamber at the end. Clutch size can range from one to seven eggs but usually four or five. Its diet is primarily fish possibly supplemented by aquatic insects, and frogs, tadpoles and molluscs have also been recorded. It hunts from perches, diving into the water to catch prey. Small fish may be swallowed on the wing but larger ones are taken back to the perch and bashed repeatedly. It also regularly hovers before plunging down to take prey in water. The species is generally sedentary with some local movement in response to changes in food availability. However movements can extend over several hundred kilometres (Woodall 2016).

Conservation Actions Underway
Bern Convention Appendix II. Listed as Critically Endangered on Turkish Red List (Kiziroglu 2008). There are no known conservation measures specifically targeting this species.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Research should be developed into the species' range, ecology, habitat requirements and movements to inform future conservation measures. Also, the investigation of potential threats and their impacts is important, particularly looking at pollutants and toxins in the species. In Europe legal protection of the species and key sites should be developed and implemented as well as a Regional Action Plan for the species.